Hi everyone! A few things to discuss before we move on with the story.
First, I would like to apologize for breaking my 'every other week' schedule. I was on vacation and didn't have time to plan for having chapters uploaded during my absence. So, to make up for that, this chapter will be longer than usual.
Secondly, I would like to thank all of you who have been commenting on this story. I love reading all the comments you leave and suggestions you have. Thank you to 13violets, Darkrai's Daughter, Sylica Marvell, tooObsessive, Wendydiaries, and Emiko-San for leaving your kind words for me. I truly appreciate all the comments I receive.
On the topic of suggestions, I had many suggestions for more ships and introduction of more characters…
All in good time my friends, but you may not have to wait as long as you may think.
With that, on with the story!
Chapter 8
Alright. I've got a little bit of homework that I probably should do… naw I'll do it during off period or something. Sollux thought to himself as he entered his apartment. "Hey KK, I'm back!" He walked to the hallway outside of his roommate's door and saw it closed. He heard a conversation between two people, though he could not make anything out. Suddenly, he heard Karkat laugh,which never happened. With that, there was only one person Sollux knew could be in there. He smirked. "Yo KK. Just because your door is closed doesn't mean the conversation you put on speakerphone between you and your lover is private."
"Piss off Sollux!" He heard Karkat shout through the door. "I'm just talking with Dave, alright?"
"I'm aware. Why do you think I said what I did? It's alright Karkat, I won't pester ya. Say hi to the BF for me." Sollux laughed when he heard his roommate give a frustrated shout.
Content with himself, having given Karkat his daily dose of trouble, Sollux walked off to his own room. It was simple, with a single bed, messy blue and red sheets, a desk with almost nothing on it but his laptop that he had spent months saving up to buy when he had moved into this apartment, and his closet, which had his clothes and gang records stashed away inside. He took his shoes off and flopped on the bed. He scrolled mindlessly through his phone for who knows how long when suddenly, the doorbell rang.
"I'll get it!" Sollux called. He slowly got off of his bed and walked to open the door. I hope KK didn't order pizza again. He knows we don't exactly roll in money. I'll have to tell him to- "Aradia?"
The girl looked up at him, curls falling on either side of her face when she did. Sollux could tell she had been crying. "Hi Sollux. I'm sorry if this is a bad time. This is probably really awkward, me just showing up like this, but I knew this was your apartment complex, so I just asked which apartment was yours. I can leave if you need."
"N-no that's not necessary. I was just surprised is all. Come in." He moved to the side and let Aradia pass him, then close the door. "Are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Aradia shifted nervously. "Actually that would have been ideal, but no. Much worse. Do you have somewhere private we can talk?"
Wow this must be bad. She seems really on edge. "Of course. We can talk in my room." He took her hand and led her into his bedroom, shutting the door behind him. They both sat on his bed. "What's wrong? I don't remember the last time I saw anyone this shaken up."
"What do you know about the Midnight Crew? Anything about who the leaders are?" Aradia looked him in the eyes, pleading for information.
The boy thought for a second. "Well, that's a bit of a complicated answer. See, there are levels of leadership. The guys that attacked you that night, those guys are the lowest level, called Peons. They do all the dirty work for the entire system in each city they reside in. The person who those guys work for is sort of like the 'Region Boss' if you will. Everyone knows her as Snowman."
The girl giggled. "Sorry, but Snowman? That seems like a peculiar name for a woman. Why is that her name?"
"Well, for one, you aren't going to use your real name if you're a criminal, because obviously then the law could catch you. Secondly, she got the name Snowman because she's cold-hearted. Ruthless towards her victims. Thirdly, hush while I'm telling a story." Sollux smirked for a second before going serious again. "Now, Snowman runs all the gangs in her region, which consists of the states Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arkansas, and Louisiana. In countries that don't have states, they divide the regions by provinces, divisions, or whatever else that country divides their land with. In the US, there are ten Region Bosses, one for every five states. Every Region Boss controls the peons in each of those states' cities." He paused, looking at Aradia's seemingly lost expression. "Are you following any of this?"
Aradia looked at him. "Yeah. It's just a lot to process, but I think I understand it so far. What's after the Region Boss?" She shifted to sit on his bed with her legs crossed.
Sollux gave a soft half smile. "Okay, so the Region Bosses all report to the Country Boss. That Country Boss is in charge of keeping their designated country under the Crew's control. They don't play a huge part in anything. Only when a region is starting to get out of control. Then they intervene and usually 'reassign' leadership." Sollux put air quotes around reassign, hoping Aradia would understand what that meant. By the grim look on her face, she got the gist. "The US's Country Boss is called Jack Noir. He lives up in New York, or so last I was told. He, along with all the other Country Bosses, report to the head honcho, the Mafia Leader. This guy is the one who runs the whole show. He runs all the other levels of the Crew as necessary, gains the most money out of all their operations, and doesn't tend to care if his subordinates come back dead or alive, because to him, everyone is replaceable. He would rather someone be dead than caught, for fear they give away important information. There's only one Mafia Leader of the Midnight Crew. His name is-"
"Lord English." Aradia looked at Sollux, who had been taken aback by her response. "That's right isn't it? Lord English runs the Midnight Crew. He lives in Europe, all over the place so he doesn't get caught."
The boy looked at her dumbfounded for another minute before realizing he should respond. "Y-Yeah. Lord English is right. But how did you know? There are only a few people who actually know his name, and even fewer who have actually seen him in the flesh. Only ones high in leadership in the Crew know of him, since the lower levels will never speak with him anyway."
The girl tucked some of her loose curls behind her ear and took a shaky breath. "I know… because he is keeping my mom and sister hostage in Europe. He's the reason I'm here, because my mom wanted to protect me from him. We didn't know what he did or how dangerous he really was, just that he was a bad guy wanted by the local authorities or something. I didn't realize who he was until Ms. Maryam told me just now. That's why I came to you, because I know you fight off the Midnight Crew, so I thought you would know something." A tear or two escaped from her eyes.
Seeing this, Sollux wiped away her tears and pulled her into a hug. "So those guys that day weren't catching you by chance… they were hunting you. But why? Why are your mom and sister being held by English?"
"I don't totally know. He seemed so nice at first, when he started going out with my mom. I don't know what was said, but he suddenly changed, controlling my mom and sister like slaves. I was too young for him to do anything with I guess. I want to help them, I just don't know how. I feel so useless." Aradia started to sob, putting her hands over her eyes.
Sollux thought for a moment, unsure of what to do. This is huge. We have recent information on him now. She could be our inside. No, that's terrible. I can't make a sweet innocent girl do something like that. Not after all she's been through. I don't know if we have much of a choice though… "Hey, Aradia. Look at me." She looked at him, and he cupped her face in his hands. "Lord English needs to be taken down. He has for some time now. I despise everything he does, so I want to be the one to do it. I want to help you get your mom and sister back. But, to do that I'm going to need your help. I know it's a lot to ask, but would you mind helping out the Alternians by giving us all information about Lord English?"
"I'll do it." Aradia said without hesitation.
"Before you do really agree to this, you have to realize what you're getting yourself in to. This is not light work. What you're agreeing to is aiding a gang to attempt to take down one of the most well known and dangerous mafias in the world. This could get you into serious trouble." The boy slid his hands to rest them on Aradia's shoulders. "Are you absolutely sure you are okay with this?"
The girl took a deep breath and nodded her head. "Completely. Anything to get my family back."
Sollux adjusted his glasses and nodded slowly. "Okay. Then, starting now, I am going to protect you. I don't want anything or anyone to hurt you. If that means protecting you like a bodyguard, I will do it."
"Sollux…" Aradia went soft, relaxing her body from its previously tense position. She suddenly threw her arms around him. "Thank you." She whispered.
After a few seconds, they let go and Sollux sighed. "Well, since I hate leaving things on such a depressing note, why don't we talk about something else. Anything you want to talk about?"
The girl sat more upright. "Yeah actually. I have a question. You wear those 3D glasses all the time. Why?"
The boy's face started to turn red. "Oh geez. I hate talking about this. Well, I guess I can't avoid it forever. I wear these to hide my eyes."
"Well no duh." Aradia giggled. "But why do you hide your eyes?"
"I was born with this thing called Heterochromia. Most people think it's cute on dogs and stuff, but I got teased for it all the time. My parents comforted me through the teasing, but when I was… living on my own… a few years back, I knew I wanted a change. So, I got these glasses to hide my eyes." He hated talking about his parents, or his condition, but he felt like he could trust Aradia. As much as when he told Karkat this same story.
Slowly, Aradia reached for his glasses, to which he automatically flinched. "Please?" She pleaded. Again, she went to go take off his glasses, and Sollux decided not to fight it this time. He closed his eyes as she took them off, then slowly opened them. Her eyes were filled with awe, and she looked even more beautiful to him than she had with his glasses on. "They're…"
"Weird? Ugly? Freaky?" Sollux listed all the common names he had been called because of his eyes. He tried to think of more, but was suddenly caught off guard by Aradia's lips being placed on his cheek, cautiously and sweetly and softly all at once.
She pulled away. "Beautiful. Unique. Amazing. That's more what I was going for." She smiled, and suddenly to Sollux, she looked like some sort of Greek Goddess. Radiant and beautiful. Perfect. He smiled back, showing off his horribly crooked teeth, but he didn't care.
"Thank you. You know, now that I think about it, if I'm going to be your protector, I suppose I need a way to contact you, don't I?" Sollux leaned back slightly.
Aradia chuckled. "Sollux Captor, are you asking me for my number?"
"Hmm," the boy voiced. "I suppose I am. So how about it Megido? Would you mind if I had your phone number?"
The girl pulled her long hair to one shoulder and smiled. "I would not mind one bit."
See? Good things come to those who wait. I hope this chapter sufficed for an apology of lateness. If you enjoyed this, or want to tell me what to add, please feel free to let me know by liking and/or following this story, or leave a comment. I will be sure to read them. :)
Until next time.
~Jane